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Should I invest in Max Life Smart Wealth Advantage Growth Par Plan?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 25, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Jul 16, 2024Hindi
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Hi I had decided to take a policy for Max Life Smart Wealth Advantage Growth Par Plan (A Non-Linked Participating Individual Life Insurance Savings Plan) I am 28 years old and investing 1.5 LPA annually with rate 8% roi this 1.5 i have to give annually till 12 years will instant interest return around 61k every year from 2nd year till 23rd year and the maturity will be on 25th year. Could you please suggest if this is a good investment to go with. please suggest

Ans: Evaluating Your Investment Choice
Understanding the Policy

Plan Type: Max Life Smart Wealth Advantage Growth Par Plan.
Premium: Rs 1.5 lakhs annually for 12 years.
Duration: Interest returns from 2nd to 23rd year; maturity at 25 years.
ROI: Projected rate of 8%.
Critical Analysis

Returns

Guaranteed vs. Non-Guaranteed: The plan offers participating benefits which are not guaranteed.
Expected Returns: Non-linked plans often have returns lower than market-linked investments.
Liquidity

Lock-in Period: Limited liquidity with long-term commitment.
Access to Funds: No easy access to your money until maturity.
Comparison with Other Options

Term Insurance

Coverage: Higher sum assured at a lower premium.
Simplicity: Pure risk cover without any investment component.
Public Provident Fund (PPF)

Safety: Government-backed and risk-free.
Returns: Around 7-8% currently, tax-free interest.
Mutual Funds

Potential Returns: Equity mutual funds can offer higher returns, though with higher risk.
Flexibility: SIP options provide flexibility in investment amounts and duration.
Recommendation Based on Risk Appetite

Risk-Averse Approach

Term Insurance: Opt for a term plan with adequate coverage.
PPF: Invest in PPF for assured, tax-free returns.
Benefits: Combines safety with adequate life coverage.
Willing to Take Risk

Term Insurance: Secure a term plan for life cover.
Mutual Funds: Invest in a diversified mutual fund portfolio for potential higher returns.
Benefits: Offers higher growth potential with life security.
Disadvantages of the Policy

Lower Returns: Potential returns may not match inflation and market-linked returns.
Lack of Flexibility: Long-term commitment with limited access to funds.
Advantages of Suggested Approach

Term Insurance + PPF

Security: Provides financial security for your family.
Stable Returns: Offers stable, risk-free returns.
Term Insurance + Mutual Funds

Growth: Potential for higher returns through equity exposure.
Flexibility: SIPs offer flexible investment amounts and durations.
Action Plan

Review Needs: Assess your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Consult CFP: Seek advice from a Certified Financial Planner for personalized planning.
Start Early: Begin with term insurance and a mix of PPF or mutual funds based on your risk appetite.
Final Insights

Better Options: The Max Life plan may not offer the best returns.
Alternative Investments: Consider term insurance combined with PPF or mutual funds.
Professional Advice: A CFP can help tailor a plan to meet your goals.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 06, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 10, 2024Hindi
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I invested in Max Life Monthly Income Advantage Plan year 50k since 2016 . Its good invest or not . Another is ICICI Pru Signature year 1.5 lk im not sure amount the returns any suggestions .
Ans: I'm happy to chat about your investments. It sounds like you've been proactive by putting money away for the future – that's great!

Let's talk about these plans you mentioned. These types of insurance-cum-investment products can be a bit tricky. While they offer a mix of insurance and investment, they might not always be the most suitable option for everyone.

Here's why:

Focus Split: These products try to do two things at once – provide insurance coverage and grow your money. This can sometimes mean they might not excel in either area.
Potential Lower Returns: The insurance component often comes with fees that can eat into your investment returns compared to pure investment options.
Instead, let's consider a different approach that might better suit your needs. Here's a possible strategy:

Term Insurance: This provides pure life insurance coverage at a lower cost. Think of it as a safety net for your loved ones in case of an unfortunate event.
Mutual Funds: These are investment vehicles that allow you to pool your money with others and invest in a variety of stocks or bonds. They offer the potential for higher returns compared to insurance-linked products.
This way, you get the security of life insurance and the potential for growth through mutual funds. It's like having a well-diversified team working for your financial goals!

Look, understanding financial products can be complex, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution. If you'd like to explore this further, I recommend chatting with a CFP. They can give you personalized advice based on your specific situation and financial goals. Don't worry, CFPs are there to guide you, not pressure you – they're on your team!

In the meantime, keep up the good work with saving and investing. It's a marathon, not a sprint, but with the right approach, you can reach your financial finish line!

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
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Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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Dr Dipankar

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Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
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Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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